Press for printing individual workpieces such as envelopes



April 21, 1953 R. E. sKow PRESS FOR PRINTING INDIVIDUAL WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1950 niniigiinmg mum Snoentor Poss Skew GttorneuS 2,635,538 VIDUAL '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apnl 21, 1953 R. E. sKow PRESS FOR PRINTING INDI WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES Filed May 19, 1950 3nventor Poss Skew attornegs April 21, 1953 R. E. sKow 2,635,538

PRESS FOR PRINTING INDIVIDUAL WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES Filed May 19, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zmventor Poss Skew if J.

C(ltomegs MJMJ April 21, 1953 R. E. sKow 2,635,538

. PRESS FOR PRINTING INDIVIDUAL WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES Filed May 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 3noentor ,mwW.

GttornegS R- E. SKOW PRESS FOR PRINTING INDIVIDUAL WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES April 21, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 19. 1950 Znwentor P055 Skew By I z Z 5 (Ittornegs A ril 21, 1953 R. E. SKOW PRESS FOR PRINTING INDIVIDUAL WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 19, 1950 Qww mum wmw 7* NWN mww mvm R. SKOW PRESS FOR NTING INDIVIDUAL WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES April 21, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed May 19, 1950 Ah m6 3 mentor I Poss Skow WWW attorneys m9 R mm m m m9 f 3 RN m m2 mw Eww Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS FOR PRINTING INDIVIDUAL WORK- PIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES 16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a press for printing individual work pieces, such as envelopes, to a customers order.

For example, printers and envelope manufacturers have many customers requiring envelopes printed to their specifications, but with present day high production machines it is economically impracticable to set them up for small quantity runs. On the other hand, standard stock sizes of envelopes may be manufactured on such machines at relatively low cost, but the envelopes then require printing for the customers needs.

It is, therefore, the principal object of th present invention to provide a relatively small printing press that may be easily set up to print economically, envelopes in accordance with a customers requirements. In this way, printed envelopes may be supplied to the customers at substantially low cost because of the economic manufacture of envelopes by present day, high production, envelope manufacturing machines.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a printing press of this character with a simple and positive feeding mechanism whereby envelopes may be individually fed from a stack. and kept in continuous high speed movement in spaced sequence while being delivered to the printing mechanism; to provide means for retaining. a positive grip on the. envelopeswhile they are passed between the printing plate cylinder and the impression cylinder of the printing mechanism, thereby eliminating smearing of the ink; to provide. for registration of the; envelopesin both the direction of travel and in aside wise direction thereby assuring accurate placement oil theprinting; to provide the printing press witha safety mechanism. for automatically stopping operation of the press in case of pile-ups or" misfeed of the envelopes; and to provide. means for indicating when a given number of envelopes have passed through. the printing press thereby facilitating placement of the given. number of envelopes in a package or container.

It is. also: anobject of the invention to provide a printing press adapted to print many types of envelopes, jackets, folders and the 1ik8,eithBlI on the face or back sides. Other objects of the invention are to provide the press with a feeding mechanism that is not dependent upon engagement of the fiap of the envelopes; to provide a press adapted to feed. and print any weight of envelopes, from light weight air mail to 32 sub stance. or heavier stock; and to provide a printpress and feed therefor which operates successfully on envelopes that have become warped during manufacture or storage.

A further object of the invention is to maintain working mechanisms of the press in synchronism by means of a common drive.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided an improved structure the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing press constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side View of the main portion of the press, portions being broken away for better illustration.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the main portion of the press.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the main portion of the press.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the printing press.

Fig. 6 is an underneath perspective View of the discharge table of the press particularly illustrating the counting mechanism for indicating when a given number of envelopes have been printed.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the timing switch for the count indicating arm.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the withdrawal. cylinder particularly illustrating the vacuum nozzles for engaging the individual, envelopes and the valve member for controlling thesuction through the nozzles.

Fig. 9 is. a section through the valving member on the line 99, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary perspective View of 6, and the driving connections therebetween- The countershaft 4 constitutes the main drive and is provided with a pulley T operated from a pulley B on the armature shaft 9 of the motor by means of a belt lil. The shafts 5 and 6 constitute drives to operating mechanisms of the printing section ofv the press generally indicated atll. The printing section includes a series of inking andink transfer rollers l2, a printing plate cylinder I3 adapted to receive the printing plate, and an impression cylinder M that is movable to and from the printing plate cylinder 13 aslater described. The shaft 5 is operated from the shaft 4 through pulleys l5 and I6 fixed to the respective shafts and interconnected by an endless belt H. The shaft 6 is driven from the shaft through a chain and sprocket connection as indicated at l8. The various rollers of the printing section of the press are mounted in side frames l9 carried upon the forward portion of the base 2.

Also carried on the base 2 rearwardly of the printing section are laterally spaced plate-like standards and 2| that are interconnected at their upper ends by a cross bar 22. Also connecting the upper ends of the standards 20 and 2| at a slightly lower level relatively to the cross bar 22 is a yoke shaped frame 23 having side arms 24 and 25 provided with outwardly offset portions 26 and 21 by which the yoke shaped frame is connected with the standards through fastening devices 28. The opposite ends of the arms 24 and 25 are connected by a cross bar portion 29 of the yoke.

The frame 23 cooperates with a withdrawal cylinder 30 to support a stack of envelopes 3| as best shown in Fig. 2. The stack of envelopes 3| is retained in a vertical position by posts 32-33 and 34-35, each being supported by a slotted foot 36 attached to the lower end thereof. The foot portions 36 of the respective posts 32 and 33 are carried on lugs 31 projecting inwardly from the cross bar 29, and the foot portions 36 for the posts 34 and are carried on similar lugs 38 projecting inwardly from the side arms 24 and 25 of the yoke shaped frame. When thus mounted, the posts 32 and 33 engage the rear of the stack and the posts 34 and 35 engage the sides of the stack. The foot portions 36 are adjustably secured to the lugs 31 and 38 by cap screws 39 that extend through the slots and into threaded openings of the lugs. The front portion of the stack is backed by vertical members 48 and 4| carried on the cross bar 22 by angle shaped brackets 42. The brackets are attached to the rear faces of the members 40 and 4| and they have arms 43 provided with slots 44 adjustably anchored to the cross bar 22 by fastening devices 45 whereby the vertical members 40 and 4| may be adjusted to cooperate with the posts in retaining the front edges of the envelopes substantially in a vertical plane with the axis of the withdrawal cylinder 30.

The withdrawal cylinder 30 constitutes a cylindrical body 46 which may be of less length than the transverse dimensions of the envelopes and which is provided near the ends thereof with annular grooves 41 and 48 for a purpose later described.

Formed in the withdrawal cylinder at opposite diametrical sides thereof are laterally spaced suction ports 49-50 and 5|52, the ports in the respective sides of the cylinder being interconnected by manifold channels 54 and 55 which open inwardly from a recess 56 at one end of the cylinder as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Extending axially through the cylinder is a shaft 51 having projecting ends 58 and 59 journaled in suitable bearings 60 of the standards 20 and 2| as shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted within the recess 56 is a valving disc 6| having an axial opening 62 therein for passing th shaft 51. The disc 6| has a valving face 63 that is retained in contact with a correspond-- ing face 64 formed by the bottom of the recess 56, the valve disc being retained by a collar 65 that is fixed to the shaft 51, as best shown in Fig. 8. The valve disc 6| is retained from rotation by an arm 66 fixed to the cross bar 29 and having an end 61 thereof secured to the periphery of the valve disc by fastening devices such as screws 68 as shown in Fig. 2. Formed in the face 63 of the valve disc is an arcuate channel 69 that is adapted to successively register with the manifold channels 54 and 55 incidental to rotation of the withdrawal cylinder so as to establish suction through the respective pairs of nozzles whenever the arcuate channel is registering with the inlets of the manifold channels.

In order to establish suction through the nozzles the valve disc 6| carries a nipple 10 that is in connection with the arcuate channel as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The nipple projects from the outer face of the valve disc and is connected with a flexible duct or hose 1| leading to a vacuum pump (not shown) which may be housed within the base 2 of the machine or connected with any suitable vacuum line usually available in an envelope manufacturing establishment.

As above stated, the stack of envelopes is partially carried by the frame 23. This is effected by providing the foot portions of the posts 32 and 33 with tongues 12 and 13 that are secured to the posts by clamps 14 and 15 so as to engage under the rear edge of the stack as shown in Fig. 2 while the front portion is bearing upon the withdrawal cylinder and in position to be engaged by the nozzles. The envelopes, when engaged by the cylinder, are carried downwardly and forwardly through an arcuate pass 16 that is formed between the peripheral face of the cylinder on one side and a plurality of arcuate bars 11 that are spaced apart along the length of the cylinder and which are adjustably carried on the cross bar 16 that is carried by arms 19 pivotally attached to the transverse bar 22 previously described as indicated at (see Fig. 2).

To facilitate control of downward feed of the envelope, from the stack and hold back the envelopes while an envelope is being withdrawn by the withdrawal cylinder, the cross bar 22 carries an angle shaped bracket 8| for attaching a vertical control member 82 having a rubber facing 83 in contact with the edges of the envelopes as shown in Fig. 3. The bracket 8| has a slotted foot portion 84 that is mounted on the bar 22 by a fastening device 84'. The bracket 8| carries a member 85 having laterally directed ears 86 and 81 for rotatably supporting an adjusting screw 88 that is threadably engaged with a lug 89 projecting from the member 82 as shown in Fig. 3 and seating a spring 89 that is on the adjusting screw 88 and bears against the lug 89. The upper end of the adjusting screw has a knurled head 90 by which it may be rotated to raise and lower the member 82 and adjust the lower end relatively to the peripheral face of the withdrawal cylinder. The lower end 9| of the resilient facing 83 depends from the lower end of the member 82 so as to provide a flexible lip 92 bearing on the withdrawal cylinder and under' which the first or lowermost envelope is adapted to move while the resilient facing assists in holding back the remaining envelopes in the stack.

To relieve the weight of the upper envelopes in the stack from the lower envelopes, the bar 29 of the yoke frame carries an angle bracket 94 adjustably mounting a reversely arranged bracket 96 having a slotted foot 91 to pass a retaining screw 98 whereby when the screw is loosened the bracket 96 may-be shifted to and from the stack. Carried by a vertical arm 99 of the bracket 96 is a downwardly and outwardly projecting terminal I Illl'supporting a finger IOI that is. adapted to engage and support the upper portion of the stack. in cooperation with the resilient facing 83. The lower envelopes which are the first removed, are therefore more freely removed by the withdrawal cylinder. To facilitate seal about the suction nozzles, the ports may be counterloored and faced with resilient bushings I02 as shown in Fig. 8. These bushings project slightly from the surface of the withdrawal cylinder to effectv a seal with the envelope being withdrawn and since they are subject to wear they are supported on threaded bushings I03 that are threaded into the cylinder. The threaded bushings are adapted to be turned by a tool (not shown) which is inserted through the rubber bushing and engaged within hexagon shaped bores I03 of the threaded bushmgs.

The withdrawal cylinder is rotated from the countershaft 4 by means of a chain belt I04 operating over a sprocket I06 fixed to the countershaft 4 and a sprocket I fixed to the cylinder shaft 5?. The withdrawal cylinder carries the envelopes from the bottom of the stack and deposits them upon a conveyer which carries them to the printing section of the press as now to be described.

Extending parallel with the axis of the. withlrawal cylinder and at a point therebelow is a shaft IG'I carrying laterally spaced sprockets I08 I90 which substantially register with the annular grooves of the withdrawal cylinder. Journalled in the side frames I9 in substantially the same horizontal plane as the shaft I01 is a shaft H2 also mounting sprockets H3 and H4 registering with the sprockets I08 and I09. for carrying endless chain. belts H5 and H6 havin upper runs IIl operating in channel tracks or rails I I8 and H9, the upper side edges I20 and I2I of which are located slightly above the level of the upper runs, of the. chains Ill and sufficiently below the under surface of the withdrawal cylinder to allow the envelopes to pass therebetween and to be moved into position for engagement. of the envelopes by pins [22 that are spaced along the length of the respective chain belts to move the envelopes into the. printing section of the press.

The ends of the siderails of the channel tracks may be suitably shaped. For example, the ends extending under the. withdrawal cylinder may be curved downwardly as. indicated at I23 while the opposite ends may have the undersides tapered as at I24 to permit, the, ends thereof to project. in close relation with the path between the printing plate cylinder and the impression cylinder of the press. The tracks. or rails II8 and [I9 are carried by a cross bar I25 having its ends. secured to longitudinal rails I25. and I21 that connect the vertical plates of the frame at the respective sides of the press with the side frames I9.

. Also carried by the cross bar I25 are angle shaped side guides I28 and I29. for guiding the ends of the envelopes and assuring transverse registry of the envelopes with the printing plate cylinder while they are being moved into printinsv position. The side guides I28 and I29- are carried on angle shaped brackets I30 that are adjustable. on the bar I25 as best shown in Fig. 4. One of the side guides is positioned parallel with the conveyor chains to serve as a fixed stopfor the side edges of the envelopes moving there along. The other guide however is set at an angle delivery end of the other guide a. distance substantiallycorresponding with the sidewise width of the envelopes. The opposite end of the guide is spaced a greater distance to assure free entrance of the envelopes therebetween. With this arrangement of the guides thev envelopes are caused to move transversely while they are being carried to the printing section of the press. When the envelopes reach the restricted end of the guides, they are in sidewise registry with the printing position.

Projecting rearwardly from the cross bar I25 at a point midway between the conveyor tracks H8 and H9 is a tongue I3I pivotally mounting bell crank levers I32 and I33 with arms I34 thereof projecting alongside the channel shaped tracks or rails and carrying pressure or transfer wheels I35 that cooperate with the withdrawal cylinder in directing the envelopes onto the edges I20 and I2I of the rails I I8 and I I9. The pressure wheels I are retained in contact by springs I36 connected with the other arms I31 of the bell crank levers and with a fixed part of the frame (Fig. 3).

The conveyor pins I22 are carried on plates I38 that are adjustably mounted on lugs I39 that project laterally from the outersides of selected links of the chain belts I I5 and I I6 and move along the inner sides. of the outer edges of the tracks or rails as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The conveyor belts [I5 and H0 are operated from the countershaft. 4 through a countershaft I40 having a sprocket I4.I thereon aligning with a driving sprocket I42 on the countershaft 4, the sprockets I42 and MI being connected in driving relation by an endless chain belt I43. The shaft II2 projects outwardly from the side of the ma chine and carries a sprocket I44 that is adjustably positioned on the shaft by a collar I45 whereby the sprocket I 44 may be advanced or shifted retractably relatively to the shaft II2 so as to adjustably position arrival of the envelopes relatively to the printing roller I3. This is effected by providing a loose fit of the hub I48 of the sprocket I44 on the shaft I I2 and providing the adjacent end of the collar I45 with a reces I41 to receive the adjacent end of the hub I48. The collar I45 is affixed relatively to the hub I48 by a set screw I48" that is threadedly carried by the collar and which has an end engaging the hub I48. The collar is adjustably retained on the shaftv II2 by a set. screw I49 threaded into the collar and having an and bearing on the shaft I I 2,. as best shown in Fig. 10.

When it is. desired to advance the sprocket I44, the setscrew I48 may be loosened and thecollar turned to position the sprocket after which the setscrew is retightened. To facilitate turning of the collar, the periphery thereof may be provided with knurling as indicated at I50. The sprocket I44 is driven from the shaft I40 by means of a chain I-5I operating over a sprocket I 5-2 on the outer end of the shaft I40, and over a sprocket t53-that is mounted on the outer end of the printing roller shaft I54. The sprocket I44 engages the upper run of the belt as best shown in Fig. 2, and is driven thereby. In this manner the withdrawal cylinder, feed conveyor, and the printing platevv cylinder are all kept in timed relation so as to. maintain control of the. envelopes. and deliver them in proper registry to be printed thereon.

The envelopes. are kept in contact with the longitudinal guide. rails by longitudinal top. uides or rods I 55 carried at: their respective ends on thereto with the delivery end spaced: from the 7 Crossbars: I56 and- I5]: of a frame I58. The frame I58 also includes'side arms I59 and I60 having outwardly offset ends I6I which are pivotally engaged within the vertical plates 20 and 2I by cap screws I62 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The rods I55 are carried by C-clamps I63 fixed to the upper sides of the rods I55 and have notchedlike seats I64 receiving the crossbars I56 and I5! as best shown in Fig. 2. The C-clamps are kept in adjusted position on the crossbars by setscrews I65. The rear ends of the rods or those adjacent the withdrawal cylinder 45 are curved upwardly as indicated at I66 to facilitate the'entrance of the envelopes thereunder. In case of pile-up of the envelopes under the frame, the frame I58 may be raised on the pivotal connections I62 thereof with the plates 20 and 2I and the envelopes may then be readily removed.

To automatically stop the machine in case of pile-up of two or more envelopes between the withdrawal cylinder and the printing unit, I provide a central rod I61 having vertical stems I68 and I69 near the respective ends thereof that are slidable within vertical openings in a longi tudinal bar I10. The bar I has yoke shaped ends Ill and I12 engaging the crossbars I56 and I51. as shown in Fig. 3, and which are clamped thereto by setscrews I13 and I14. The stems I68 and I 69 are free sliding in the supporting bar I10 so that the rod I61 rides freely upon the envelopes as they are moved thereunder, but when two or more envelopes pile up, the bar raises and operates a switch I15 that is mounted on the supporting bar I10 and which is adapted to be actuated by a strap I16 connecting the upper ends of the stems I68 and I69, the plate I16 being anchored to the stems by jam nuts I11 and I18 engaging the respective sides of the plate. The plate is adapted to operate an arm I19 of the switch through a pivotal connection I80. The switch I15 is connected in the circuit of the motor 3. Therefore, should two or more envelopes begin to bunch up on the conveyor, the switch I15 is automatically operated to stop operation of the machine.

There may be times when an envelope should fail to be withdrawn by the withdrawal cylinder so that a space would occur on the feed conveyor. Therefore, the printing plate cylinder would .apply ink on the impression cylinder of the printing press with the result that the next succeeding envelope would be printed with an offset on the under side thereof by the ink deposited on the impression cylinder. To avoid this difficulty, means is provided for shifting the impression cylinder from contact with the printing plate cylinder as now to be described. Carried by a suitable insulated bracket I82 on the longitudinal bar I10 is a contact arm I83 that rides along the upper face of the envelopes and if an envelope is absent to make contact with a ground contact I84 that is carried by the crossbar I25. The housing I85 in Fig. 3 indicates a solenoid magnet connected with a current supply on one side and with a switch I86 that is operated by a cam I81 on the shaft I01 so that when an envelope should be passing under the contact arm I83 the switch I86 is closed to effect flow of current to the solenoid byway of the contact arm I83 and ground contact I84 in the absence of an envelope. The solenoid magnet includes an operating arm I9I that is connected with an arm I92 on a rockshaft I93. Mounted on the rockshaft I93 is a latch I94 that engages in a notch I95 of a pin I95 which extends laterally from an arm I91. The arm I91 is carried on a shaft I98 extending transversely under the impression cylinder and which has eccentrics I99 on the ends thereof. Mounted on the eccentrics are eccentric straps 200 that are pivotally connected with slide blocks 20I that rotatably carry the impression cylinder. When the'solenoid is energized and the latch I 94 is disengaged relatively to the arm I91 the weight of the impression cylinder supplemented by a spring 202 (Fig. 2) causes the eccentrics to rock and drop the impression cylinder out of contact by the printing plate cylinder. The impression cylinder is reset by an operating lever 285 connected with the shaft I98, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to adjust the arm I91 relatively to the shaft I98, the arm is loose on the shaft but is connected therewith through a fixed arm 206 pivotally carrying an internally threaded sleeve 201 which mounts an adjusting screw 208, the adjusting screw being rotatably connected with the arm I91 as shown in Fig. 3.

To assure that the envelopes are contacted by the pins on the feed chains, the envelopes are engaged by a brush 2 I I that is carried by the crossbar I51 and which is adapted to press on the envelopes and retard movement thereof until the pins make contact with the rear edges of the envelopes. When the envelopes are carried up to the printing plate cylinder they are engaged between upper and lower feeding rollers 209 and 2I0 that are driven in synchronism with the printing plate and impression cylinders. This is effected by interconnecting the rollers 209 and 2I0 by gears 2I2 and 2 I2 with the gear 2I2 meshing with an idler gear 2 I3 which in turn meshes with a gear 2I4 on the impression cylinder shaft as shown in Fig. 3. The ratio of the gears is such that the peripheral speed of the feed rollers correspond with the face speed of the impression cylinder and with the face speed of the printing plate that is attached to the surface of the printing plate cylinder. Attention is here directed to the requirement that the envelopes when engaged between the feed rollers must be moved thereby at a higher speed than the speed of the conveyor chains, otherwise, the conveyor pins would not clear the envelopes, as the pins are carried around the sprockets I I3 and I I4. The upper feed roller is preferably in the form of a lateral series of spaced contact rollers as shown in Fig. 4 to leave spaces therebetween to accommodate guides 2I5 that are carried from a crossbar 2 I6 of the printing frame. The guides serve to hold the envelopes down and in plane with the path between the printing plate and impression cylinders, thereby are so located with respect to the printing plate and impression cylinders that they retain gripping contact with an envelope even while the envelope is passing the printing plate cylinder and is being printed thereby. In fact, the contact is maintained until the forward edge of the envelope has passed the printing plate cylinder and is gripped by rollers 2I1 which bear upon the impression cylinder. The rollers 2I1 are carried on arms 2I8 that are mounted on a cross shaft 2I9 (Fig. 3). Thus the envelope is positively held while it is being printed, the rear gripping rollers retaining hold of the envelopes until the front rollers have engaged therewith.

After passing of the envelopes through the printing unit they are discharged on a conveyor table 220 that is adjustably carried relatively to the printing unit by links 22I pivotally connected with ears 222 projecting forwardly from the frame of the printing unit and which have their assuring their entrance therein. The feed rollersopposite ends pivotally connected with depending ears 223 on the frame of the discharge table, the links carrying screws 224 adjustably engaging against the bottom of the table (Fig. 3). The opposite end of the table is carried on supporting legs 225 having rollers 226 on which that end of the table rocks when making the adjustment (Fig. 1').

Carried beneath the table 220 at the respective ends thereof are countershafts 228 and 229. Mounted on the countershafts are laterally spaced pulleys 230-4231 and 232-233. Operating over the pulleys are endless belts or webs 234 and 235 with the upper runs 236 and 237 thereof moving along the upper surface of the table, as best shown in Fig. 1, to carry the printed envelopes along the length of the table and into position for removal and placement into the boxes in which they are packed. Pressure wheels 238 and 239 are carried on arms 240 which are pivotally connected as at 24! to arms 242 that are fixed to a cross shaft 243 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the cross shaft being supported at its ends in clamping brackets 244 to maintain a fixed angular position of the arms 242 whereby the position of the wheels are adjusted to and from the printing rollers. 'If desired, a resilient tongue 245 maybe provided to bear upon the envelopes intermediate the pressure wheels, the tongue 245 being carried by the shaft.

in order to indicate when a given number of envelopes have passed through the printing sec-'- tion of the press, means is provided to shift the last envelope in the group out of alignment with respect to the rest of the envelopes. This is effected by a shift arm 246 located at one side of the table and carried by a vertical shaft 241 which is pivotally mounted therein and adapted to be operated by an arm 248. Actuated in timed relation with the feeding conveyor and adapted to make one revolution with the passage of a given number of envelopes through the printing unit is a shaft 249 rotatably supported under the frame 259 of the delivery table. Fixed to the shaft 249 is a sprocket 25! that is driven by a belt 252 from a sprocket 253 of a speed reduction mechanism indicated by the housing 254 in Fig. 3. The speed reduction mechanism is actuated from the countershaft H2 by a chain belt 255 operating over a sprocket 256 on the shaft H2; also best shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 249 carries a cam disc 259 having a dwell 259 therein adapted to engage a roller 26% on an actuating arm 26! of a switch 251. The switch 26! is connected in circuit with an electromagnet 283 that is mounted on the underside of the delivery table and is connected by a link 259 with the arm 2 38, so that when the dwell 259 of the cam disc 258 engages the roller 26!}, the switch as! will be actuated to energize the electromagnet 268. Energization of the magnet swings the arm 248 and rocks the shaft 221 for swinging the shift arm 245 inwardly against the envelope then moving in flight onto the conveyor belts to shift that envelope out of line and indicate that a given number of envelopes have passed through the printing unit. A stop 2? I is provided on the table opposite the shift arm 246 to limit displacement of the envelopes, the stop 21! being adjustable to the length of the envelope by providing the supporting arm 212 thereof with a slot 273 through which a fastening device such as a screw 214 is inserted into the table 2 22. The switch ZE? is adjustable relatively to the cam disc 258 by mounting of the switch on an arm 216 that swings about the axis of the 1'0 shaft 249 and which is retained in an adjusted position by clamping the arm 216 to a bracket 21! which depends from the under side of the table. The clamp is effected by a screw 218 which is carried by the arm 216 and passes through an arcuate slot 219 in the bracket 211.

Ordinarily the operator will have removed the printed envelopes from the belts before they reach the end of the table. However, to stop the envelopes the table may be provided with upwardly inclined rests 289 as indicated in Fig. l.

The table conveyor belts are driven from the shaft 249 by a chain 29I operating over a sprocket 232 on the shaft 249 and a sprocket 284 on the shaft 228. The belts 234 and 235 may be adjusted by mounting the shaft 228 on brackets 285 that are adjustably attached to the frame of the table by bolts 286 that extend through slots 281 in the brackets as shown in Fig. 6.

The chains of the feed conveyor are kept in proper tension by sprockets 288 and 289 engaging the respective chains H5 and H5. The sprocke ets are carried on arms 290 fixed toa rockshaft 2% which is pivotally mounted in the frame of the press. The sprockets are yieldingly retained in contact with the chains by springs 292 connected with the arms 290 and a fixed part of the frame. The withdrawal cylinder drive chain I04 is tightened by an idler sprocket 293 that is carried by an arm 294 as shown in Fig. 2.

To facilitate lining up of the conveyor pins I22 a collar E46, fixed on the shaft H2, has a notch 295 which makes one revolution when the pins have advanced one space and the notch is engaged by a pawl 296 to give an audible signal. A gauge (not shown) may be set up in a fixed position in the path of the pins, and when the pawl drops into the notch the pins immediately adjacent the gauge are adjusted so that they both contact the gauge. This squares up the pins in a transverse direction so that the envelopes are advanced with their rear edges parallel with the printing roller. The conveyor chains are then advanced until the' pawl again engages the notch after which the next set of pins are adjusted to the gauge. This adjustment also assures that the pins are equally spaced apart along the length of the conveyor chains and that the envelopes reach the printing roller in the same relation.

Assuming that the machine is constructed and assembled as described, the operation is as follows: The posts 32-33 and 34-35 are adjusted to the size of the envelopes to be printed. The ver tical members 40 and 4! and the vertical feed control member 82 are adjusted relatively to the front of the stack 3!. A stack of the envelopes 3! is then placed in position between the posts with their rear edges supported on the tongues or rests 12 and 13 and their front edge portions supported on the withdrawal cylinder 30. If the front faces of the envelopes are to be printed, they are placed face down in the stack but if the rear faces are to be printed, they are placed front face up. The envelopes may be turned to be best accommodated within the press; for example, if open end envelopes are to be printed they are placed with the closure flaps to one side so that the major length of the envelopes are transversely of the press. Also the flaps may be either open or closed. The adjustments to the stack supports are effected by loosening the fastening devices 39, 45 and B4, and shifting the posts and supporting members to their desired position, after which the 'fa's'teningdevices are retightened.

The member '52 is then adjusted vertically through operation of the knurled adjusting screw 88 so as to apply the required pressure of the flexible lip 9| on the withdrawal cylinder to permit proper passage of a single envelope when engaged by the suction nozzles of the withdrawal cylinder later described. The supporting finger IOI is adjusted relatively to the stack so that it lightly engages between envelopes in the stack for cooperation with the resilient facing 83 .in supporting weight of the upper portion of the stack.

The guide rails I28 and I28 are adjusted laterally of the crossbar I25 according to the transverse width of the envelopes at the delivery ends thereof while the entrance ends are spaced a greater distance apart to allow free entrance of the envelopes. This adjustment is effected by placing one of the side guides at an angle relatively to the other side guide. The shift arm 248 is adjusted on the shaft 241 so that it swings into position to engage the ends of the printed envelopes, discharged from the printing. mechanism. The stop 21I is adjusted on the table to control the extent of displacement of an envelope by the shift arm 246.

It is now assumed that the withdrawal cylinder 38 is connected with a suction pump, and that the motor 3, cylinder 30, feed conveyor, printing unit, and delivery conveyor are all in operation. The printing plate is attached to the printing plate cylinder in proper position by usual methods for example by a "sticky back material. Another adjustment to be made is to synchronize the conveyor pins with the printing plate cylinder. This is effected through adjustment of the sprocket I on the shaft I I2 by means of the knurled coupling collar I45.

When the withdrawal cylinder 38 rotates a pair of suction nozzles thereof pass under the lowermost envelope in the stack. The manifold channels supplying this pair of nozzles are then in connection with the nipple 18 and suction hose 1I through the arcuate channel 88 of the valve disc. The suction thereby draws the first or bottom envelope of the stack into contact with the face of the withdrawal roller so that it is carried under the lower ends of the backing members 40 and II, and under the flexible lip 8|. Continuing the advance, the withdrawal cylinder carries the envelope through the arouate pass 16 and onto the upper edges of the guide tracks II 8 and IIS completely reversin the position of the envelope in that the face side is now up. By this time, the suction is cut off by the manifold channel passing the arcuate channel '64 of the valve disc which leaves the envelope free to be picked up by the pins I22 on the chain belts H and H6. Contact of the pressure or transfer rolls I35 with the cylinder 30 aid in straightening out the envelope for moval along the conveyor chains. The envelopes are then pushed along the guide rails with the ends being guided by the side guides I28 and I29. As the envelopes are moved along the rails .they are being shifted sidewise by the canted guide rail into side contact with the straightaway guide rail so that when the envelopes reach the delivery ends they are in registry with the printing plate on the printing plate cylinder.

The conveyor chains carry the envelopes under be delivered, the rotating cam I81 makes con- 12 tact with the switch I88 to effect energization of the electric magnet I which manipulates the rod IBI to release the latch I94 from engagement to the arm I91, thereby permitting the impression cylinder I4 to drop from contact with the printing plate cylinder I3 so that an offset is not effected in the impression cylinder. In case the envelopes should begin to bunch up under the top guides I55, the center rod I81 is lifted thereby to actuate switch I15 to stop operation of the machine. The bunched-up envelopes are then readily removed by lifting the frame I58. After clearing out the envelopes, the frame is lowered and the machine is again started. When the envelope reaches the end of the conveyor chains the pins I22 push it into the path between the gripping rollers 28! and 2H! and as the gripping rollers have a faster peripheral speed they carry the envelope away from the conveyor pins and feed it under the guides 2I5 to the pass between the printing plate and impression cylinders. The gripping rollers retain their grip on the envelope while it is passing under the printing plate cylinder and until it has been gripped by the rollers 2I1. When the rollers 2I1 have a grip on the envelope the trailing edge has passed the rear gripping rollers, with the result that the envelope is always held in register while being printed. Therefore, the envelope cannot slip out of registration while passing between the printing plate and impression cylinders; consequently the printing is applied in the required position and in proper relation with the sides and ends of the envelope.

After the envelope is released by the rollers 2H and before being contacted by the wheels 238 and 239 they drop in flight onto the delivery table. If the envelope is for example the last envelope of a given count, the arm 246 comes into play and shifts the envelope while in flight against the stop 21I.

The envelopes after dropping onto the table are carried therealong by the upper surface 236 and 231 of the belts to the stop rests 280 from where they are removed by the person operating the press.

It is obvious that since the first of the envelopes in the stack is maintained in contact with the peripheral face of the withdrawal cylinder, the envelopes are engaged by the suction nozzles and withdrawn thereby, so that thickness of the envelopes is not a factor. Also the flaps form no function in the withdrawal so that the envelopes may be fed with the flaps opened or closed and the possibility of a stuck flap has no bearing upon the feed.

It is also obvious that in the case of jammed envelopes on the feeding conveyors, the press is stopped automatically and the envelopes are readily removed by merely lifting of the guide frames and cleaning out the disarranged envelopes. It is also apparent that failure of an envelope to feed stops the printing operation since the impression plate cylinder is automatically dropped from out of printing relation with the printing plate cylinder.

The transition of the envelopes from influence of the chain pins I22 to the feeding or gripping rollers is most important because the surface speed of these rollers speeds up the envelopes at this point and prevents their rear edges from being bumped or deformed by the sweep of the conveyor pins I22 as they pass around the sprockets H3 and Ill. The f eed rollers also assure accurate placement of the printing on the envelopes.

The press constructed and operated as described is characterized by its small size, ease of make-ready, simplicity in operation,positive feed. accuracy of registration, and speed of printing so that envelopes and the like may be economically printed to suit a customers needs.

I claim:

1. In a printing press, a printing mechanism, means for supporting a stack of workpieces, a pair of endless conveyor chains, shafts and sprockets supporting said chains, a withdrawal cylinder below the stack supporting means and above the endless conveyor chains for withdrawing workpieces from the stack supporting means and carrying the workpieces into an inverted position on the conveyor chains, pins on the conveyor chains for engaging edges of the workpieces and advancing the workpieces to the printing mechanism, guides extending along the outer sides of the conveyor chains for guiding side edges of the workpieces while being advanced to the printing mechanism, means for holding the workpieces in contact with the conveyor chains, means for actuating the conveyor chains, means including a switch on said frame for stopping actuation of the conveyor chain actuating means, and an operative connection between said holding means and said switch for opening of the switch to stop the conveyor chain actuating means in the event stoppage of workpieces should occur under said holding means.

2. In a printing press, a printing mechanism,

means for supporting a stack of workpieces, a

pair of endless conveyor chains, shafts and sprockets supporting said chains, a withdrawal cylinder below the stack supporting means and above the endless conveyor chains for withdrawing workpieces from the stack supporting means and carrying the workpieces into an inverted position on the conveyor chains, pins on the conveyor chains for engaging edges of the workpieces and advancing the workpieces to the printing mechanism, guides extending along outer sides of the conveyor chains for guiding side edges of the workpieces while being advanced to the printing mechanism, a frame, 1ongitudinal bars carried by the frame for holding the workpieces in contact with the conveyor chains, means for actuating the conveyor chains, means including a switch on said frame for stopping actuation of the press, means movably supporting one of said longitudinal bars on the frame, an operative connection between the movable bar and said switch for opening of the switch to stop the motor in the event stoppage of workpieces should occur under said movable bar, and means for pivotally supporting the frame for movement from over the conveyor chains to an out of the way position to facilitate movement of the jammed workpieces.

3. A printing press including a printing mechanism having printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for supporting a stack of workpieces, a feed conveyor for moving workpieces in successive order to the printing mechanism, a withdrawal cylinder, means rotatably supporting the withdrawal cylinder below the stack supporting means and above the feed conveyor for withdrawing workpieces individually from the stack supporting means and carrying the workpieces into an inverted position on the feed conveyor, means for actuating the feed conveyor and printing plate cylinder in synchronism to position arrival of the workpieces relatively to the plate cylinder, gripping rollers between the feed conveyor and printing plate and impression cylinders for receiving the workpieces from the feed conveyor and passing the workpieces between the printing plate and impression cylinders, and means for operating the gripping rollers at a higher peripheral speed than the speed of the feed conveyor.

4. A printing press including a printing mechanism, having a printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for supporting a stack of envelopes, a feed conveyor for moving the envelopes in successive order to the printing mechanism, said plate cylinder having a printing contact point in plane with, the feed conveyor, means for actuating the feed conveyor, gripping rollers having fixed axes :and located between the feed conveyor and the printing plate and impression cylinders for gripping the respective front and back faces of the envelopes as they are presented by the feed conveyor and until an envelope gripped thereby is passing the contact printing point between the printing plate and impression cylinders, and means for operating the gripping rollers at a higher surface speed than the speed of the feed conveyor to clear a gripped envelope from further contact with the conveyor.

5. A printing press including a printing mechanism, having a printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for supporting a stack of envelopes, a feed conveyor for moving envelopes in successive order to the printing mechanism, means for actuating the feed conveyor, gripping rollers between the feed conveyor and the printing plate and impression cylinders for receiving the envelopes from the feed conveyor and passing the envelopes between the printing plate and impression cylinders, gripping rollers cooperating with the impression cylinder to grip the envelopes while the envelopes are passing the printing plate cylinder and means for operating the first named gripping rollers at a higher sur face speed than the speed of the feed conveyor.

6. A printing press including a printing mechanism, having a printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for supporting a stack of envelopes, a feed conveyor for moving envelopes in successive order to the printing mechanism, a withdrawal cylinder, means rotatably supporting the withdrawal cylinder below the stack supporting means and above the feed conveyor for withdrawing envelopes individually from the stack supporting means and carrying the envelopes into an inverted position on the feed conveyor, means for actuating the feed conveyor and printing plate cylinder in synchronism, gripping rollers between the feed conveyor and printing plate and impression cylinders for receiving the envelopes from the feed conveyor, said gripping rollers being located relatively to the contact printing point of the printing and impression cylinders to maintain grip on the envelope while the envelope is progressing through said printing point, and means for operating the gripping rollers at a higher surface speed than the speed of the feed conveyor to clear the envelopes from further contact by the conveyor.

'7. A printing press including a printing mechanism, having a printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for supporting a stack of envelopes in face down position, a feed con-.- veyor for moving envelopes in successive order to the printing mechanism in substantial align- "15 ment with the printing point between said cylinders, a withdrawal cylinder, means rotatably supporting the withdrawal cylinder below the stack supporting means and in position to contact face sides of the envelopes for withdrawing envelopes individually from the stack supporting means and carrying the envelopes into a face up position on the feed conveyor, means for actuating the feed conveyor and printing plate cylinder in synchronism, gripping rollers between the feed conveyor and printing plate and impression cylinders for engaging the envelopes therebetween and passing the envelopes through the printing point between the printing plate and impression cylinders while the envelope being printed is gripped thereby, gripping rollers cooperating with the impression cylinder to continue grip on the envelopewhile the envelopes are passing said printing point, and means for operating the gripping rollers at a higher surface speed than the speed of the feed conveyor to clear the envelopes from further contact by the feed conveyor.

8. A printing press including a printing mechjanism, having a printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for supporting a stack of envelopes in face down position, a feed conveyor for moving envelopes in successive order and in face up position to the printing mechanism, a withdrawal cylinder for contacting the face side of the envelopes, means rotatably supporting the withdrawal cylinder below the stack supporting means and above the feed conveyor for withdrawing the workpieces individually from the stack supporting means and carrying the workpieces into said face up position on the feed conveyor, means for actuating the feed conveyor and withdrawal cylinder in synchronism, gripping rollers between the feed conveyor and the printing plate and impression cylinders for receiving the envelopes from the feed conveyor and passing the envelopes between the printing plate and impression cylinders, gripping rollers cooperating with the impression cylinder to grip the envelopes while the envelopes are passing the printing plate cylinder, means for operating the gripping rollers at a higher surface speed than the speed of the feed conveyor to clear the envelopes from further contact by the feed conveyor, a delivery table for receiving the printed envelopes discharged by the second named gripping rollers, endless conveyor means operative along the table to move the printed envelopes, and means for actuating the endless conveyor means at a slower speed than the peripherial speed of said second named gripping rollers for lapping of the envelopes on said table.

9. A printing press including a printing mechanism, having a printing plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, a feed conveyor for moving workpieces in successive order to the printing mechanism, means for actuating the feed conveyor, gripping rollers between the feed conveyor and the printing plate and impression cylinders for receiving the workpieces from the feed conveyor and passing the workpieces between the printing plate and impression cylinders, gripping rollers cooperating with the impression cylinder to grip the workpieces while the workpieces are passing the printing plate cylinder, means for operating the gripping rollers at a higher surface speed than the speed of the feed conveyor, a delivery table for receiving the printed workpieces discharged by the second named gripping rollers, endless conveyor means extending along the table to, move the printed workpieces, means for actuating the endless conveyor means at a slower speed than the peripherial speed of the gripping rollers, and means between the second named gripping rollers and the endless conveyor means for laterally deflecting selected workpieces.

10. In an apparatus for feeding envelopes to a printing unit having a shiftable impression cylinder, a supporting frame, a conveyor on the supporting frame for feeding the envelopes to the printing unit, a contact member supported by the frame in contact with the envelopes carried by the conveyor, a cam actuated switch in series with the contact member and rotatable in timed relation with the conveyor to close circuit through the contact member in the absence of an envelope on the conveyor, means for shifting the impression cylinder, and means responsive to closure of said circuit through the contact member for actuating said impression cylinder shifting means.

11. An apparatus for feeding workpieces to a printing unit including a conveyor, a supporting frame, means on the supporting frame for carrying a stack of workpieces to be printed, means for effecting feed of the workpieces from the stack and depositing the workpieces on the conveyor, pins on the conveyor for engaging rear edges of the workpieces to move said workpieces with the conveyor, means for retarding workpieces to assure contact by said edge engaging means, and means for operating the workpiece feeding means and conveyor including means for advancing and retarding movement of the conveyor to synchronize position of the workpieces relatively to printing position of the workpieces in said printing unit.

12. In a printing press including a supporting frame, rests carried by the supporting frame for carrying a stack of envelopes to be printed, a withdrawal cylinder having suction ports, means rotatably supporting the withdrawal cylinder on the frame in position below said carrying means, stack backing members carried by the frame and having lower ends spaced above the withdrawal cylinder to provide passageways for the envelopes, a resilient member carried by the frame intermediate the stack backing members and having a terminal contacting the withdrawal cylinder and under which the envelopes are passed, and means for establishing suction through said ports for effecting withdrawal of the lowermost envelopes from the stack.

13..In a printing press including a supportng frame, rest means carried by the supporting frame for carrying a stack of envelopes to be printed, a withdrawal cylinder having suction ports, means rotatably supporting the withdrawal cylinder on the frame in position below said rest means, stack backing members carried by the frame and having lower ends spaced above the withdrawal cylinder to provide a passageway for the envelopes, a resilient member carried by the frame intermediate the stack backing members and having a terminal contacting the withdrawal cylinder and under which the envelopes are passed, means for establishing suction through said ports for effecting withdrawal of the lowermost envelopes from the stack, and means for adjusting pressure of the terminal on the withdrawal cylinder.

14. In a printing press, a printing plate cylnder adapted for carrying a printing plate, an mpression cylinder cooperating with the printing plate cylinder in forming an impression on a workpiece passed between said cylinders, means foractuating. said cylinders with the surface of the printing plate operating at the same surface speed as the impression cylinder, feed rollers at one side of the cylinders for gripping the workpiece and feeding the workpiece between said cylinders, means for operating the feed rollers at the same surface speed as the impression cylinder to feed the workpiece at the speed of the printing plate, and gripping rollers at the opposite side of said cylinders and having contact with the impression cylinder for maintaining registry of the workpiece after release by the feed rollers.

15. An apparatus for feeding envelopes from a means for supporting envelopes in stacked relation to a printing mechanism, said feeding apparatus including a pair of laterally spaced parallel rails extending from below said stack supporting means to the printing mechanism and having upper edges forming supports along which the envelopes are adapted to slide, side guides spaced outwardly from the rails and having flange portions substantially in plane with said edges of the rails to cooperate therewith in supporting the envelopes and having vertical flange portions for engaging ends of the envelopes to establish transverse registry with the printing mechanism as the envelopes are moved along the rails, shafts extending transversely below the respective opposite ends of the rails, sprockets on the shafts, endless chains operating over the sprockets with upper runs thereof extending along the rails and spaced below said upper edges of the rails to be out of contact with the envelopes, pins projecting from the chains and adapted to project above the edges of the rails as the chains carry them along the rails in pushing contact with rear edges of the envelopes, retarding means having support between the rails to make contact with the envelopes and assure said contact by the pins, a withdrawal cylinder having a peripheral face provided with a port through which a vacuum is drawn and released, means supporting the withdrawal cylinder above the rails and with the peripheral face in contact with the first of said envelopes in the stack to effect withdrawal of said envelope downwardly and forwardly under the withdrawal cylinder, a transfer wheel having support intermediate the rails and in position to cooperate with the peripheral face of the withdrawal cylinder to feed said envelope therebetween and onto the rails substantially upon release of the vacuum, top guides having support above the rails and in position to retain the envelopes in sliding contact with said edges of the rails and the rear edges of said envelopes from lifting upwardly over the pins when the envelopes are engaged by said retarding means, and feed roilers between the rails and the printing mechanism to continue feed of the envelopes into the printing mechanism.

An apparatus as described in claim 15 in- I eluding a frame carrying the top guides and the retarding means, and means for pivotally supporting the frame relative to the rail and side guides.

ROSS E. SKOW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,779,310 Fischer Oct. 21, 1930 1,848,856 Wagner et a1. Mar. 8, 1932 1,993,361 Post Apr. 4, 1933 1,948,142 swift Feb. 20, 1934 2,033,849 Mudd Mar. 10, 1936 2,082,064 Kleineberg June 1, 1937 2,083,296 Davidson June 8, 1937 2,233,153 Welk Feb. 25, 1941 2,248,079 Harrold et al. July 8, 1941 2,251,945 La Bombarde Aug. 12, 1941 2,318,215 Gans May 4, 1943 2,374,668 Davidson May 1, 1945 2,425,936 Hepp Aug. 19, 1947 2,432,133 Babicz Dec. 9, 1947 

